Carpet-hard floor joint cover



April 25, 1961 M. H. BARNES ETAL 2,980,943

CARPET-HARD FLOOR JOINT COVER Filed May 23, 1960 /I"III. l i5 f/vye/vrons I b non H. beam-.5 Q Ann 7/ Jose?" D. CRLANDRO i i-i By 5 p 2 ATTORNE;

United States Patent CARPET-HARD FLOOR 101m covan Myron H. Barnes, 223 Kelvin St., and Joseph D. C-alandro, 10524 Allyson St., both of Baton Rouge, La.

Filed May 23, 1960, Ser. No. 30,909

3 Claims. (Cl. 16-7) and adjacent flooring.

Carpeted floors are of course widely used-and are increasingly popular .in residential construction. The problem of securing carpet edges to sub-floors at a room boundary, adjacent the walls, has generally been satisfactorily solved. Prefabricated tack strips are employed, having a thickness approximating a carpet pad or underlay, and fitted with upwardly protruding tacks. Such strips are cemented along a room wall, an underpad is installed, and the carpet is stretched and the margins fastened on the rows of protruding tacks. The final step is the installation of a molding on the wall base boards, which presses on and holds the carpet margin on the tacks.

An entirely different problem ispresented when carpet margins coincide with room openings. The problem arises in part from the fact that, in practically all such instances, although the apparent finish surfaces are at, or are intended to be at, the same level, the carpet is, of course, soft and yielding, whereas the adjacent surface is hard and unyielding. In addition, as will be explained more fully hereafter, tolerances in building construction are sufficiently loose, in practicethat the finish flooring surfaces are actually at different levels. I

In designing for adjacent-carpeted and' hard-floored rooms, it is customary to provide for a difference in subfloor elevation so that the finish floor surfaces are at the same level. Thus, in using concrete sub-floors, a room to be carpeted is normally intended to have a depressed floor about one-half inch below the concrete in an ad jacent area to be floored with material such as vinyl, asphalt, or rubber tile. It will be clear that the magnitude of depression theoretically necessary will vary with the thickness of the hard surfacefinish flooring, and also with the thickness of the carpet-under pad combination. In the majority of instances, however, the actual elevations provided are not in concordance with those required for equivalent elevations of carpet and hard surface floors.

Even in the exceptional case, in which the finish surfaces are at the same elevation, however, it has heretofore been extremely d-iflicult to provide a neat and workmanlike joint at carpeting-hard floor abutments. A tacki-ng strip is used at such locations. If the carpet is merely cut at the abutting junction, raw, untidy'edges' are presented, both of the carpet and the adjacent flooring. Attempts are frequently made to tuck in or roll the carpet edge, but offers only a temporary improvement in appearance, and does not improve the rough appearance of the edge of hard flooring material. In addition, direct pressure on a carpet over a tacking strip, by bare feet of infants or juveniles, will result in severe discomfort becauseof the yielding of the carpetmaterial and pnojec- 7 tion of the tack points.

- .inafter, the structure to the base member. comprise downwardly extending this member being adapted to concurrently engage the hard surface flooring and concurrently resiliently engage Metal plates are frequently used for providing a joint. These are customarily strips about two inches wide, having rounded or beveled edges. Installation is by screws through the strip surface into the sub-floor, the edges of the strip lapping over both floori g materials, carpet and hard surface. In installing such strips when concrete sub-floors are in use, provision must be made for securing the screws. In the poorer class of work, wooden dowels recessed in the concrete are used. These, unfortunately, work loose rapidly. In the best class of Work, anchor plugs, or metal expansion plugs, are employed. However, since twisting stress isapplied to the strip in normal use, this mode of fastening is not fully satisfactory. In all cases, however, the joining methods have been unsatisfactory, because of impermanence or lack of durability, or unsightliness, or a combination of these factors. A great need 'has thus arisen for improvement in joining methods and devices for the junction of carpet and hard surface flooring materials.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved mold or joint trim or member for a joint or abutment of a carpet and hard floor surface, said floor ings presenting, or ostensibly presenting, finish surfaces at the same elevation.

An additional object of certain embodiments is to provide a joint member for providing, in unison with a tack strip, a carpet anchoring means and a joint trim at joints of carpets and hard floor surfaces, said fi-oorings having finish surface elevation-s as above characterized.

Yet another object is to provide a joint member for effecting a neat surface appearance having no visible fastening means securing the joint member to the under floor,

Still another object is to provide a joint member for carpet to-hard floor abutments or joints, of the type described, wherein the impact and stresses of use do not impose any significant stresses upon the fastening means employed for securing the joint member of the subfloor.

Yet another object is to provide a joint member, for the service described, which is readily accommodated to installations or carpet-flooring joints wherein the finish elevations do not exactly coincide.

An additional object, especially of certain embodiments of the invention, isto provide a joint member, for joints as above defined, which preserves the appearance of equivalent or identical finish top surface elevations, of the carpet and the hard flooring, even when those elevations substantially vary. Other objects and benefits will appear hereinafter.

In its most generalterms, the present invention comprises an elongated joint strip, having, in cross section, a base member for engagement with a sub-floor under the carpet boundary, adjacent the joint to be made and covered, an upstanding web member attached to the base member, and a top member. The Web member is attached to the base member at or near an edge thereof, said edge. being'placed, in use, generally adjacent the margin of the hard surface flooring abutting the carpet. The top member is, generally, a strip member, attached to the Web on a line intermediate the edges of the top member, and having an upper surface generally parallel portions, the edges of the carpet material. As will appear more clearly hereof the joint cover member is peculiarly adapted for minor on-the-job adjustment to obtain snug accommodation for variations in elevation dimensions .from one specific installation to the next, with no significant variation in finish appearance or durability. Further, a degree of resilience is also attained with re The edges of the top member mayspect to the engagement of the top member edge with the carpet boundary, or adjacent-to-margin surface.

The details of the present invention, and of the best modes of its construction and use, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and from the accompanying figures, wherein:

Fig. l is a general view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of another form of the invention in use, illustrating the combination of the present improved joint or joint cover and tack strip, at a typical carpet-hard floor joint;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a carpet-hard floor joint made and covered by yet another form of the invention;

Fig. 4vis a cross sectional view of one form of the improved joint cover, in place adjacent a hard floor margin, but before carpet installation, and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the same joint installation as in Fig. 4, but after carpet stretching and laying, and after final adjustment.

Referring to Fig. l, a portion of a typical embodiment of the joint strip of the invention is shown, having a base member 11, an upstanding member or web 12, and top member 13. These members are suitably formed as a unitary structure of a corrosion resistant metal such as extruded aluminum. The web 12 is attached to the base member 11 at an edge thereof, and to the top member 13 at a position intermediate the edges 14a, 14b thereof. Associated with and forming part of the top member 13 are downwardly bent edge flanges 13a, 13b. The upper surface 15 of the top member 13 is, in this embodiment a flat surface generally parallel to the bottom member 11. As explained more fully hereinafter, absolute parallelism, prior to installation, or after installation, is not essential. In fact, the ability of the present invention to form a neat and permanent joint cover, and to cooperate in providing a secure carpet anchorage, even when the top surface 15 is necessarily at an angle to the horizontal, is a decided advantageous feature.

The web 12 is attached, in this embodiment, to the base member 11, and to the top member 13 at angles other than right angles. It will be apparent that downward pressure on the top member 13 (while supporting the base member 11) will result in some deformation of this attachment angle, i.e., increasing the degree of acuteness. In addition, dependent upon the mode of application of said pressure, and upon other factors, the angle of attachment of the web to the top member can be similarly altered, or alteration can be avoided. In the former case the relative parallelism of the base member and the top member will be undisturbed. In the latter case, it will be apparent that the upper surface 15 of the top member 13 will be inclined relative to the horizontal. Whether the above described alterations, in relative portions of the several members, are permanent or not, depends upon the properties of the material involved, i.e. whether the elastic limit of the material is exceeded at the zones of deformation, so that the material takes a permanent'set.

The precise dimensions and relative proportions of the several members are not highly critical. Generally, the top member 13 has one edge normally positioned approximately above the mid-section of the base member 11.

It will be seen that the top member 13 in part, the web 12 and the base member form an enclosure 16 capable of receiving a carpet raw edge. The base member is susceptible of attachment to a sub-floor, preferably by fastening means not shown applied to the portion 17 of the base member protruding beyond one edge 14a of the top member 13. The edge 18 of the base member 11, at which the web 12 is attached, is positioned, in use, in close proximity to the margin of the raised hard surface flooring material with which a joint is to be made, the second edge 14b of the top member 13 extending beyond the edg'e18 and over the hard surface flooring material.

The portion 17 of the base member, which extends, in use, under a carpet, projects beyond the joint edge 14a of the top member 13, sufiiciently to support and operate in conjunction with a tack strip of known design. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, carpet anchoring means can form a part of this zone 17 of the base member 11. Typical installation and functioning of the embodiment illustrated by Fig. 1 will be clear from the additional embodiments described below, showing further variations or preferred embodiments, as in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 2, a joint cover structure 30 is shown in position, effecting a cover of a joint between a carpet 28 and a wood block floor 25. The flooring materials and joint cover structure rest on a sub-floor 21 of concrete. The joint cover structure 30 includes, in the embodiment of Fig. 1, a base member 31, an upstanding web 32 attached to the base member 31 at an edge 38, said edge being positioned adjacent the margin 24 of the wood flooring 25.

. The carpet 28 is supported generally by a resilient padded material 27, which is trimmed to conform to the edge 36 of the base member 31.

In this embodiment, an important feature is the coaction of the joint cover structure with a carpet fastening means, comprising a Wooden tack strip 37 of known structure, having a plurality of tacks projecting upwardly through the strip 37. The tack strip 37 and the joint structure are both firmly aflixed to the concrete subfloor 21 by fastening means 39 driven through both members into the concrete.

A further feature of this embodiment is the provision of one or more alignment ridges 36a, 36b providing registration means for the tack strip 37. A ridge 36a aligning the inner (i.e., nearest the joint) edge of the tack strip performs a dual function in that it provides supplemental rigidity to the base member in this region and prevents or minimizes flexing of the portion of the base member 31 which underlies the tack strip 37. This minimizes any tendency to dislodge the fastening means 39 from position.

One edge 34a of the top member 33 of the joint cover structure resiliently presses downward on the margin of the carpet 38, thus assuring that engagement of the carpet by the tacks 38 is retained, and the carpet is securely edge fastened. The second edge 34b of the top member 33 snugly engages the top surface 23 of the wood flooring 25. It will be seen that any irregularities in vertical dimensions of the hard flooring material, relative to the pad 27-carpet 28 thickness, are readily compensated for by variation of the angle of attachment of the web 32 to the base member 31 and/or the top member 33, as explained with reference to Fig. 1. Further, pressure and stress induced by traffic tends to more securely fasten the carpet, owing to the action of the top member edge 34a in conjunction with the tack strip 37. At the same time, traffic pressure tends to increase the tightness of seal between the second edge 34b of the top member 33 and the working surface 23 of the wood flooring.

The upper surface of the top member 33, in this embodiment, is slightly arcuate, having more sharply curved terminal or edge flange-like portions 34a, 34b. This design may be more aesthetically appealing in some instances, in that tilting, when occurring, of this top member is visually obscured owing to such arcuate configuration. It will be clear that other top member configurations, e.g., the top member 13 of the embodiment of Fig. 1, can be employed in the alternative, and similar functional results will be achieved.

The occasional flexing of the base members of the joint cover structure, mentioned above, is illustrated in Fig. 3, which shows a further embodiment of applicants invention. Referring to Fig. 3, the joint structure 50 in this instance is between a carpet and a thin tile material, such as vinyl resin tile 45. The concrete sub-floor 41, in

such instances, is usually provided with a depressed portion 41a coextensive with the carpeted area. The joint structure 50 in this embodimentas in other instances includes a base member 51, a web 52, and an upper member 53. As in previouslydescribed embodiments, the web 52 is attached to the base member 51 at an edge 58 thereof, and attaches to the upper member on a line intermediate the'edges 54a, 54b thereof. In contrast to previously described embodiments, the base member 51, even prior to installation (and frequent flexing accompanying installation) is not a. flat planar shape, but includes a riser portion. 57 rising at a slight angle to the horizontal, and having a marginal supporting flange 57a, which provides for elevation equal to, or approximately equal to, the thickness of a pad 47. The riser portion 57 has associated or incorporated therewith carpet anchoring means 56a, 56b spaced at uniform intervals along the length thereof and adapted to engage the carpet backing in the same manner as the tacks of a conventional tack strip. These anchoring or tack means may be formed, forexample, by triangular segments pantly punched from the body of the riser portion .57 and bent upwardly. Alternatively separately formed tack means canbe brazed or otherwise attached to the riser portion 57.

The joint structure 50 is attached to'the sub-floor 41a by fastening means 59 such as a concrete nail, driven through the riser portion 57 into the sub-floor 41a.

In the present embodiment, it Will be seen that the upper surface 43 of the vinyl flooring 45 is in excess of the desired height, hence the top member 53, infin-al position is slightly tilted toward the carpet (the tilt being shown in exaggeration in the figure). In addition, frequently in such instances, the portion of the base member 51 approaching the margin 44 of the hard flooring sub-floor Will beslightly flexed upward.

It Will be seen that the joi-nt co ver structure in the foregoing embodiment, in place, provides a secure and permanent joint which does not display any fastening means, and provides a resilient and Workmanlike cover.

The mode of installing typical cover structures of the present invention, and of establishing a joint, is illustrated more fully by Figs. 4 and 5. Referring to Fig. 4, a joint cover structure 70 is shown in place, adjacent a hard flooring material 65, and with a carpet pad 67 in place, these items being supported on the sub-floor 61.

As in the embodiment of Fig. 2, a tack strip 77 is associated with the joint structure, being positioned between two ribs 76a, 76b. Fastening means such as a nail 79 are driven through the track strip 77 and the base member 71 into the subfloor 61. j In this embodiment the angles of web 72 to the base member 71, and'to the top member 73 are such that the upper surface of the top member is inclined slightly away from the plane of the base member 71. It will be seen that this configuration provides a relatively large opening space for the insertion of a carpet margin.

The next stepin establishing a finished, covered joint, and in anchoringthe carpet is illustrated by, Fig. 5. Referring to Fig. 5, this cross sectional view shows the position of the carpet in place on the tack strip 77 and concurrent insertion of the edge into the space provided by the base member 71, web 72 and top member 73. Down Ward pressure having been then applied on the top member 73, results in deformation of the web 72, and of the junctures thereof with the base and top members 71, 73. The deformation is such that the edges 74a, 74b of the top member snugly engage the top surface 63 of the hard surface flooring 65, and press downwardlyon the carpet 63. In this instance, the hard surface flooring material 65 is thinner than the carpet plus pad thickness, so in the final installation, the top member 73 is tilted slightly away from the carpeted area. I

It will be evident that numerous attributes of the several embodiments of the invention can be varied, without departing from the principles thereof, as described below. 1

The web member, connecting the base member and the top member is positioned, preferably, at some angle toward the interior edge of the base member. By interior is meant, the edge positioned under the carpet margin. A common range of angles is an acute angle of from about 30 to 60 to the base member. However, if desired, it will be quite satisfactory if the web is at right angles to the base member, or even forms an angle of slightly more than In these latter instances, it will be appreciated that in addition to downward pressure, more lateral pressure on the top memben'directed toward the inner edge, Will be necessary in installing to cause deformation of the web, and/or the junctions with the bottom member and the top member, in the appropriate direction.

The particular material of construction is not critical to effecting the objects of the invention, and numerous types can be used. Metals are preferred, especially those capable of easy deformation; but yet retaining adequate resiliency to flexibly press the carpet in place. Thus brass, aluminum, Monel metal and stainless steel are suitable. Extruded aluminum is particularly efficient, inasmuch as the relatively complicated shaped required is readily formed. In some instances, synthetic resinous materials are employable,except that, again, it is de- 'sirable that such a material be capable of receiving a permanent set upon deformation. Controlled application of heat is frequently desirable in such cases.

Positive fastening means, such as nails or screws, are ordinarily preferred for attachment of the joint structure to the sub-fioor. However, cement-like adhesive materials are available and are frequently employed with full success.

It will be apparent that the various embodiments of joint structures are susceptible to different types of finish and of ornamentation. Thus longitudinal recesses can be formed in the upper surface of the top member, to provide a ribbed appearance. In the case of aluminum, anodized colored finishes are frequently used to provide an appearance which is harmonious with the carpet color. In most cases, a natural metal finish is highly satisfactory.

It will be evident that the precise numerical proportions of the several members are not highly critical, as long as the functional relationships, described heretofore, are established for use in installation. In a typical embodiment, the base member is approximately three inches wide and the top member is about one and-one-fourth inches wide. The web member suitably positions the top member about one-half to three-fourths of an inch from the base member, prior to installation.

The particular configuration of the top member is also not critical. As already explained the width between extremities of the top member is such that the edges thereof engage the flooring in correct positions, even if significant deformation is required in installing. In other words, one edge should snugly engage the upper surface of the hard flooring material, while the opposite edge resiliently engages the carpet at a line removed from the carpet anchoring means or tacks, toward the joint. In this manner, a supplemental anchoring action is exerted by the top member in conjunction with the tack or carpet anchor means.

The thickness of the several sections is not critical, and willvarywith the strength of the material employed. In the case of aluminum, section thicknesses of the order of to -inch are customary. In certain preferred embodiments, the top and base members have thicker sections than the web member, thus assuring that deformation, in installing is confined to the web member which, of course, is invisible.

In most embodiments, the downwardly projecting portions, or 'fiange members, of the top member, will be equal in size, and the top member therefore'a sym- 7, metrical shape. In other instances, it will be desirable to provide such portions of different widths on each side. Having fully described the invention, what is claimed 1S- 1. An elongated cover structure for covering a joint of a carpet and a hard surface flooring, said hard surface flooring having an upper surface elevated above a subfioor area for the carpet approximately the thickness of the carpet and any underlay pad therefor, said cover structure comprising a base member, an upstanding web member and a top member, said web member being attached to the base member at a first edge thereof and to the top member at a line between the edges thereof, the said first edge of the base member being positioned in use adjacent the margin of the hard surface flooring, the base member extending to a second edge sufiiciently to accommodate and support carpet anchoring means beyond a second edge of the top member, said anchoring means having upwardly projecting pin means to engage the carpet, the top member having margins comprising downward projecting portions to the second and first edges thereof, the first edge being positioned beyond the first edge of the base member, the top member position being alterable with respect to the base member position, by pressure deformation of the web member, to cause engagement of the first edge thereof with the hard surface flooring and resilient engagement of the second edge thereof with a portion of a carpet boundary extending beyond the carpet anchoring means toward the first edge of the base member, whereby trafiic pressure on said top member causes engaging pressure of the carpet on said anchoring means.

2. The cover structure of claim 1 further defined in that the web member forms an acute angle of at least about 30 to the base member.

3. An elongated cover structure for covering a joint 8, of a pad-supported carpet on a sub-floor and a hard surface flooring, having an upper surface elevated above said sub-floor, comprising a base member having an edge for positioning adjacent the margin of said hard surface flooring, an upstanding web member attached to said edge, and having a connection to a top member spaced apart from said base member, said connection being intermediate the edges of said top member, the top member having one edge projecting beyond the edge of the base member for overlapping the hard surface flooring, and a second edge for resiliently engaging a carpet as hereafter described, and further having marginal downwardly extending portions terminating in said edges, the base member including a portion extending beyond the edge of the top member, said portion including at least a part bent upwardly to provide an edge elevation to approximately the thickness of a carpet pad and having connected thereto a downwardly extending edge flange for support thereof, said upwardly bent part having carpet anchoring tack means associated therewith, the top member position being alterable with respect to the base member by pressure deformation of the web member to cause engagement of one edge of the top member with the upper surface of the hard flooring and resilient engagement of the other edge with a portionof a carpet boundary extending beyond the carpet anchoring tack means toward the edge of the base member whereby trafiic pressure on said top member causes engaging pressure of the carpet on said anchoring tack means.

Speer June 25, 1957 

